THE debate will continue for a long time about levels of local government finance and how responsible councils can extricate their authorities from the mess left behind by previous irresponsible politicians, mainly Labour. Only when some fundamental problems are resolved nationally will we ever stand a chance.

The U.K. Independence Party is the fourth largest and fastest growing party in Britain. We are the only ones that believe in the inalienable right of the people of this country to make our own laws through our own Parliament. The three tired old parties continue to dance to the tune of the EU, daily eroding our democratic system by toadying up to unelected bureaucrats in Brussels. People may rightly ask how much we accepted in compensation for giving away our right to home rule. Sadly the answer is that we actually pay, out of the taxpayers' pockets, £25,000,000 each and every day into the coffers of the EU.

Some £300,000 is paid weekly from taxes paid by the people of Lancaster and district to the EU. We get a tiny fraction of that back in grants and are expected to be grateful. Pardon me but if a burglar emptied my house I wouldn't thank him for merely returning the TV.

A fraction of the money paid by us to the EU could solve the financial problems facing Lancaster and many other authorities. Nationally it could buy 100 new hospitals annually, or raise state pensions by £20 per week or even knock 90p per gallon off the price of petrol. Instead, to add insult to injury we also have to witness a Sunderland market stallholder prosecuted for selling in pounds and ounces.

Now convince me that the world hasn't gone mad!

Cllr Gregg Beaman

PPC, UK Independence Party

Morecambe & Lunesdale